What is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)?
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal statute which affords any person the right to obtain federal agency records, unless the records (or a part of the records) are protected from disclosure by any of the nine exemptions contained in the law.
How do I check the status of a FOIA request?
Visit the website of the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). OGIS offers mediation between FOIA requestors and federal agencies. Check the status of the request online, whether you made it online or by another means. You will need the FOIA control number included in your receipt message.
What is the presumption of openness under the FOIA?
The Guidelines emphasize that the FOIA is to be administered with the presumption of openness. This presumption means that information should not be withheld „simply because [an agency] may do so legally.“.
What are the different types of FOI laws?
State and local FOI laws are typically referred to as “Sunshine” laws, open records laws, or public records acts. State and local governments model their FOI laws after the federal FOIA, though they also make revisions such as adding more exemptions.
Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government.
What are exclusions in the FOIA?
Congress provided special protection in the FOIA for three narrow categories of law enforcement and national security records. The provisions protecting those records are known as “exclusions”.
What happens after a FOIA request is received?
After an agency receives your FOIA request, you will usually receive a letter acknowledging the request with an assigned tracking number. If the agency requires additional information before it can begin to process your request, it will contact you.
What is the USCIS FOIA PA program?
The FOIA/PA program is part of the Enterprise Services Office in USCIS. As a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the USCIS FOIA/PA program also looks to the DHS Department Disclosure and Privacy Office for department-wide policy and guidance in the FOIA and PA areas.
How much does it cost to submit a FOIA request?
There is no initial fee required to submit a FOIA request, but the FOIA does provide for the charging of certain types of fees in some instances. For a typical requester the agency can charge for the time it takes to search for records and for duplication of those records.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government.
How long does it take to get a FOIA response?
While FOIA allows for many records to be released, there are also nine exemptions that protect certain types of information, such as personal privacy and law enforcement interests. The length of time to respond to your request will vary depending on its complexity and any backlog of requests.